When redesigning your landscape, it’s important to consider both practical and aesthetic aspects. Photo: Jerry Allison Landscaping, Inc. (2016)
Redesigning your landscape is a great way to enhance both the beauty of your home and the enjoyment of your outdoor living space. However, according to Diamond Certified Expert Contributor Jerry Allison, to ensure a good result, you’ll need to take several practical considerations into account, including the following:
1. Your ecological environment
As part of responsible planting, you should choose plants that are appropriate for the environment in which you live. For example, if you live in a region that gets plenty of rain, water-loving plants are fine, but if you live in a desert setting, these aren’t an ecologically responsible choice.
2. Your home and setting
Consider both the style and setting of your home when designing your landscape. For instance, a formal home will look best with a formal landscape. Also, if your house is situated amidst a forest setting, a New Mexico-style desert motif probably isn’t a great aesthetic choice.
3. Water-saving technology
In addition to converting your sprinklers to drip irrigation, you can further minimize landscape water usage by installing a graywater system, which collects lightly used water from your washing machine, dishwasher and other sources to be reused for plant irrigation.
4. Maintenance
Consider the amount of ongoing maintenance you’re willing to perform on your landscape. Keep in mind that native, drought-tolerant varieties conserve water and require the least maintenance.
5. Your pets
Dogs and other pets are a common source of landscape damage, so it’s a good idea to designate an area of your landscape where your pet can run around and do its business. If you’re concerned about urine damaging your lawn, you can give your pet a pill that neutralizes the acidity of its urine so it doesn’t burn the grass.
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